'POPPET' THE LEISURE 17
'POPPET' is a 'Leisure 17' sailing boat built by Cobramould in Essex during approximately 1970/71.
The owner of the boatyard where Poppet is being stored fondly remembers a previous owner making an annual return trip from Essex to Holland across the North Sea when the boat was then known as 'MAHOPAK II'.
Whilst cleaning the gelcoat on the topsides a previous name of 'Lovely Lass' could be seen worn into the gelcoat. Unfortunately little else is known about her history.
The tiny Leisure 17 was chosen as the project boat for several reasons: large production numbers meant a negotiable purchase price, good availability of spares and knowledge from the Leisure Owners Association, she was local to inspect and purchase, and the L17 model has a recorded history of making an Atlantic crossing in 1967 when one was sailed by John Adam. The tiny Leisure 17 is also the first standard production Fibreglass boat to make an ocean crossing*!
Poppet has been stripped back of her fittings and components to a bare hull ready for a full refit and upgrades. This will help to ensure that the boat is safe for an Atlantic Crossing in December 2023. More information about the fit out and works will be included in the blog.
Leisure 17 Specification
Length Overall - 5.18m (17ft)
Length Waterline - 4.27m (14ft)
Beam - 2.13m (7ft)
Draft (Twin Keel) - 0.65m (2ft 2in)
Displacement - 670kg (1476lbs)
Keel mass 250kg (550lbs)
Ballast Ratio 37%
Mast Length - 6.1m (20ft)
Mainsail - 7.7m2 (83ft2)
Working Jib - 6m2 (65ft2)
No.1 Jib - 7.9m2 (85ft2)
No.1 Storm Jib - 3.7m2 (40ft2)
Genoa - 9.3m2 (100ft2)
No.1 Spinnaker - 19.3m2 (208ft2)
No.2 Spinnaker - 32.5m2 (350ft2)
Download the 1972 Leisure 17 Brochure
*Souce
https://windpilot.com/blog/en/columns/peter-the-market/windpilot/deutsch-windpilot-die-englischen-wurzeln/ - 1967 Report from a national newspaper: "The yacht, the Eve, will be the first standard production glassfibre moulded boat to attempt the crossing. The yacht was made by Cobramold Ltd., of Basingbourne Hall, Stansted Airfield, Essex."